used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
Beth'snounUS /beθs/
possessive form of “beth” — the 2nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
of short duration or distance
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
buildingsnounUS /ˈbɪldɪŋz/
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
pleasing or delighting
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
curiosnounUS /ˈkjʊrioʊz/
plural of “curio” — something unusual -- perhaps worthy of collecting
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
DoorwaysnounUS /ˈdɔːrweɪz/
plural of “doorway” — the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
DUCA
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
a movable barrier in a fence or wall
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
ILnounUS /ɪl/
a midwestern state in north-central United States
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
inchnounUS /ɪntʃ/
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
MessinanounUS /mɪˈsiːnə/
a port city in northeastern Sicily on the Strait of Messina
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
NormannounUS /ˈnɔːrmən/
United States operatic soprano (born in 1945)
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
oldestadjectiveUS /ˈoʊldəst/
superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
predictionnounUS /priˈdɪkʃən/
the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
quaintadjectiveUS /kweɪnt/
strange in an interesting or pleasing way
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
salenounUS /seɪl/
a particular instance of selling
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
Saracennoun
(historically) a member of the nomadic people of the Syrian and Arabian deserts at the time of the Roman Empire
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
shopsnounUS /ʃɑːps/
plural of “shop” — a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
SicilynounUS /ˈsɪsəli/
the Italian region on the island of Sicily
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
Taormina
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The morning discovered nothing commonplace about Taormina.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading IL DUCA Beth's prediction, however, did not come true.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading Some of the houses had been turned into shops, mostly for the sale of curios.
the act of traveling by foot
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Their hotel was outside the walls, but a brief walk took them to the Messina Gate, a quaint archway through which they passed into the narrow streets of one of the oldest towns in Sicily.
(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface
From this reading Doorways and windows of Saracen or Norman construction faced them on every side, and every inch of the ancient buildings was picturesque and charming.
